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Aug. 22, 2017

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Kyrie Irving's request that the Cleveland Cavaliers trade him has dominated the headlines during this NBA offseason. Here's a timeline of the rumors, news and reactions in the aftermath of everyone learning of his desire to part ways with LeBron James.

The pending blockbuster trade between the Cavaliers and Celtics for Kyrie Irving appears to have hit a roadblock, but Cleveland isn't giving up on the trade just yet. According to ESPN, the Cavs were not satisfied with Isaiah Thomas' physical, and will shoot high when asking for a revision to the original trade which would send Irving to Boston for Thomas, Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Nets' 2018 first-round pick.

"Cleveland is going to try to inquire about a couple of the Celtics' young players, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, who they tried to get in the original trade. That is very unlikely,” Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday on SportsCenter (via NESN.com).

“But Boston still has a war chest of future first-round picks of their own, and some picks they control from other teams, and Cleveland is going to try to get one more of those to finalize this deal.”

The Celtics own six first-round picks in the next two drafts, but it's unlikely Boston would add another player to the existing deal because it would hinder their depth, especially Tatum, who was the team's No. 3 overall pick in June.

“Boston is resisting, and will initially at least, resist this idea,” Wojnarowski said. “Boston believes that it was completely transparent with Cleveland about where Thomas was physically (with) his rehab.

"Cleveland’s version of this is that (it) didn’t realize how long Thomas could potentially be out this season. He’s in the final year of his contract, and obviously, that matches up with what will likely be the final year of LeBron (James') current deal, and so there’s going to be a showdown between these two teams that may last a couple more days.”

Thomas' right hip injury last season caused him to miss the last three games of the 2017 Eastern Conference finals. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

After showing up to Cleveland and taking his physical Friday the Cavaliers apparently have enough concern with the hip that they could reevaluate Kyrie Irving to the Celtics, at least if Thomas is included according to ESPN.

Thomas traveled to Cleveland, took exam and flew back out of town, sources said. All players must pass physical, or a deal can be voided.

The doubt is apparently so serious that there is a possibility of the deal being voided, though no one from either team said that directly. Most trades, though, are predicated on player health otherwise teams would give away players with pre-existing injuries all they wanted to with no repercussions for not disclosing said injuries.

Thomas injured his hip last season before pulling out of the Eastern Conference Finals and sitting out the final few games. Celtics GM Danny Ainge said the injury was a signicant concern earlier this week and apparently the Cavaliers now think the same thing.

As one source involved in the process involving Thomas' medical clearance told ESPN late Friday night, "It's a very sensitive situation."

Deals have been negated by teams before due to injury with maybe the most famous one coming in MLB last year when the Padres traded an injured reliever, Colin Rea to the Marlins as part of the trade that sent Drew Pomeranz to the Red Sox.

Trades can always be voided if player health is not what they were led to believe and there is at least a possiblility that that is what will happen here.

Aug. 22: Cavaliers send Kyrie Irving to Celtics

By Alec Brzezinski

Kyrie Irving got his wish and the Celtics got the star fans have been craving for years. The Cavaliers and Celtics finalized a trade Tuesday that sends Irving from the Cavaliers to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Nets' 2018 first-round pick. Irving had asked for a trade out of Cleveland earlier this summer, and the Cavs obliged him.

"Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "He’s been an NBA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he’s accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him."

The rumor mill surrounding a potential Irving trade had quieted in recent weeks, but it always seemed likely he would be playing for a different team during the upcoming season.

While the Cavaliers received a good haul in return for Irving's services, it was still shocking to see Cleveland agree to send him to an Eastern Conference rival. Irving now has the chance to be the face of a storied franchise and will immediately have an opportunity to lead his new team to the NBA Finals.

Despite competing in three straight NBA Finals — winning one — the Cavs seemed to endure some discord this offseason with Dan Gilbert failing to renew former general manager David Griffin's contract.

LeBron James exit rumors started to swirl shortly after, followed by Irving's desire to move to a different team.

Turmoil aside, the Cavs will likely start James, Thomas, Crowder, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson next season. They could also add Dwyane Wade and some point and will be among the favorites to challenge the Warriors for the title.

Things just got more interesting in the Eastern Conference with the Celtics acquiring a bona fide star to lead the way.

"On behalf of the entire franchise, I want to thank Kyrie Irving for the six impressive years he spent in Cleveland wearing the Cavaliers uniform," Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said. "From the moment we won the 2011 NBA lottery that put us in position to draft Kyrie to the ‘The Shot’ that sealed our first NBA championship and all of the electrifying play that made him a joy to watch, 'excitement' was always in the air when it came to Kyrie Irving.

"We wish him and his family well as he moves on to the next phase of his NBA career."

Aug. 17: Kevin Durant says Cavs' Kyrie situation is 'not the end of the world'

By Thomas Lott

Kevin Durant doesn't consider the Kyrie Irving situation with the Cavaliers all that serious.

"It's just a regular NBA problem, right? A lot of teams have gone through this before," Durant said in an interview with ESPN. "They'll figure it out. That's a great organization, a championship organization. They'll figure it out."

Durant can speak about an NBA star wanting to leave another great player, just as he did in his very public departure from Oklahoma City following the 2016 season. Now he's seeing it happen again with Irving and LeBron James.

The difference here though is that Durant's desire to leave did not get out before he left. Irving's desire did. The fear now is that Irving and James won't be able to coexist now that everyone knows Irving wanted out. But Durant isn't worried about that.

"It's not the end of the world," he said. "Both of those guys won a championship together. They love each other. If Kyrie wants to do something else, that's on him. I'm sure whatever happens, it'll work out for the best for both of them. But it's just a normal NBA problem. It's just two big stars that it's happening to."

DIDO:LeBron is madI'm wondering why I asked for a trade at allI scored 40 in the Finals.But I can't please LeBronAnd even if I could I’m not Chris PaulWith their picture on a boat *1It reminds me that it's not my Cavs, LeBron runs the Cavs.

KYRIE:Dear Bron, I wrote you, but you only subtweetinI left my cell, email and my address in ClevelandI sent two letters to Dan Gilbert, you must not've got 'emHe probably fell off the side of the Flat Earth or somethin' Sometimes trade requests become too sloppy once they’re publicBut anyways, fuck it, what's been up, man? How's our teammates?I just wanted to be the man, and a chance to lead-If I win a MVP, guess who I’mma call?I'mma call Kobe

I read about Derrick Rose too, I'm sorryHe signed for the Vet Min cuz every team didn't want himI know you probably hear this every day, but I'm your best teammateI even hit The Shot after you made The Block on Andre. I got a room full of our posters and our Flatheads, manI like the ‘Ship we won in ‘16 too, that ‘Ship was phatAnyways, I hope you get this, man, hit me backJust to chat, truly yours, your best teammate, this is Kyrie

DIDO:LeBron is madI'm wondering why I asked for a trade at allI scored 57 against the Spurs.But I can't please LeBronAnd even if I could he won’t commit to stay.He’s leaving to play with Ball.It reminds me that it's not our Cavs, never was our Cavs.

KYRIE:Dear Mr. I'm-Too-Good-to-Commit To Cleveland.This'll be the last message I send before I’m leaving.It's been three seasons, I’m second fiddle — do I deserve it?I know you got my last emailI even CC’d Brian WindhorstSo this is my message I'm sendin' you, I hope you get itI'm in the gym right now, I'm scorin' 30 next seasonHey, Bron, I wanna go to the West too, you dare me to go?Stephen A Smith said if you saw me it’d come to blows.And all I wanted was a chance to handle the ballI hope you know I ripped all of our Fatheads off the wallI loved you, Bron, we coulda played together — think about it!It’s ruined now, I hope you don't win and you dream about itAnd when you leave I hope you loseAnd you scream about it; I hope your conscience eats at youCause you can't win without meSee, Bron— shut up, Dan! I'm tryin' to talkHey, Bron, that's Dan Gilbert screamin' in the hallBut I didn't stab his back, I let him know first, see I ain't like you.‘Cause if he trades me, he’ll get a good player back tooWell, gotta go, I'm almost off the Cavs nowOh shit, I forgot, how am I supposed to win a title now?!

DIDO:LeBron is madI'm wondering why I asked for a trade at allI haven’t even hit my prime yet.And I wanna leave LeBronBut even if I stayed he’s on the decline.He’s almost 33 years old.It reminds me that it's not our Cavs, Durant ruined the Cavs.

The Spurs have interest in Irving, league sources say, and Irving's willingness to commit to an extension with the Spurs makes for legitimate win-now deal possibilities for Cleveland.

According to the report, the Cavs would prefer to re-sign LeBron James to a long-term deal but could be forced to move on under the assumption that the star forward won't be signing an extension with the team next summer.

Aug. 15: Kristaps Porzingis emerges as target in trade search

By Jordan Greer

It's clear the Cavs have been looking for a blue-chip prospect in any potential trade for star guard Kyrie Irving. It's even gotten to the point where Suns rookie Josh Jackson is the sticking point in a deal being completed. But now Cleveland may have its eyes on a certain basketball unicorn playing in New York City.

Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis has become a "primary target" for the Cavs, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. As Cleveland continues its search for a trade partner — Wojnarowski calls an Irving trade "inevitable" — the franchise is moving forward under the assumption LeBron James won't return following the 2017-18 season, thus the need for a young, emerging star like Porzingis.

That's not to say the Cavs wouldn't jump at the chance to re-sign James next summer, but owner Dan Gilbert and new general manager Koby Altman understand they cannot be reactive in this situation and risk another nosedive in the standings like the last time James left Cleveland. That's why the Cavs have looked into acquiring players like Jackson, Porzingis, Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum and Nuggets second-year guard Jamal Murray, according to Wojnarowski.

The problem with adding Porzingis? The Cavs would be forced to take on Joakim Noah's albatross of a contract. Noah is owed more than $55 million over the next three years after signing a four-year, $72 million deal with the Knicks in the summer of 2016. Wojnarowski describes the conversation as a "nonstarter" for New York. READ MORE

Isn't it ironic? All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving wants to escape the shadow of LeBron James, having requested to be traded from the Cavaliers back in July after three straight trips to the NBA Finals. However, James could ultimately play a major role in Irving's final destination, according to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

When he informed Cleveland's front office of his desire to be dealt, Irving also reportedly submitted the Cavs' brass with a list of four preferred landing sports — the Timberwolves, Heat, Spurs and Knicks. Obviously, a move to San Antonio (61-21 last season), where he'd play under coach Gregg Popovich and alongside two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, would (at least on paper) give Irving the best chance to contend for a title against next season. Irving also makes sense for the Spurs' future, as he is willing to commit to a long-term extension beyond the two years remaining on his current contract.

But if James, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, continues to hold a non-committal stance with the Cavs beyond 2017-18, any potential deal with the Spurs could be off. READ MORE

Aug. 11: Irving reportedly prefers Los Angeles Clippers

By Thomas Lott

Kyrie Irving reportedly would prefer getting traded to the Clippers. On the HoopsHype podcast, NBA analyst Peter Vecsey said Irving likes Jerry West and what he has done for teams in the past and likes the prospect of being on a team where West has a say in how the team is formed.

“I’m told [Kyrie] wants to play for the Clippers. […] That’s the team I was told he wants to play," Vecsey said. “He loves L.A. He’s been working out a lot there this summer."

The Clippers don't have much in the way of assets to trade for Irving but they reportedly have already made at least one offer to the Cavaliers to get the All-Star point guard.

Irving does not have a no-trade clause, so he has limited leverage in determining where he ends up if he leaves Cleveland.

Kyrie Irving listed the Heat as one of the teams he would be willing to accept a trade to. Current Heat guard Dion Waiters is OK with that, he just wants Irving to know the Heat is his team. He said as much in an interview with HipHopSince1987 Thursday.

"It would help. I'm not against that," Waiters said of Irving's potential addition. "Just know there's an alpha male over there too in myself."

Waiters just signed a four-year, $52 million contract this offseason after averaging a career-high 15.8 points and 4.3 assists per game in 2016-17. He played with Irving already from 2012-15 as a member of the Cavaliers, but he was quick to say he is a much better player now and essentially said he will be the man the team defers to in big moments.

"I think that's my biggest thing with everybody, 'Oh he got irrational confidence …' Man, I tell everybody, if I can make it from here, I can make it from anywhere," he said. "My mom got shot, my dad got shot. C'mon bro, there ain't nothing that I haven't seen. Why not? I need that confidence to get through. Every day I need that confidence to get by. It ain't got nothin' to do with ball. It's who I am. It was instilled in me."

Irving averaged a career-high 25.2 points per game last season and would be the highest-paid member of the Heat if he were traded there.

Waiters doesn't care. He's happy to play with Irving, but he made sure to reiterate, he's the man.

"There's an alpha male over there already," he said. "If you come there, we can boogie together."

Kyrie Irving's disconnection with his team dates back further than initially believed. It became increasingly apparent that the guard wanted out of Cleveland when he stopped talking to his Cavaliers teammates amid the team's postseason run.

I think I reported this on SportsCenter this week. He saw Kyrie Irving in the playoffs this year – in between the first round, when they beat Indiana, and the second round, when they played Toronto – go consecutive days without speaking to a teammate at practice.

On that stage. It’s one thing to say people go through their ups and downs in the regular season. But when you get to the playoffs, “when the main thing is the main thing, and we’re brothers, and we’re pulling together to get this thing done” – even at that level, there were still things that made him sullen or reclusive from his teammates.

Irving approached Cavs owner Dan Gilbert in July and asked to be traded.

In quoting the hook from Drake's song "Portland," perhaps King James was just offering Irving some advice before they break up: Don't let the betas feed off your alpha-ness. On the other hand, perhaps LeBron was saying he's done with letting betas like Irving get the credit for helping him win rings.

Aug. 7: Ex-Cavs GM applauds Irving's 'courage' to make trade request

By Jordan Greer

Kyrie Irving has come under fire since his trade request became the biggest NBA news of the summer, but he has one man in his corner. Former Cavs general manager David Griffin, who parted ways with the franchise only days before the 2017 NBA Draft, says Irving handled a difficult situation the right way. Griffin sees Irving eventually being traded by Cleveland, but he doesn't agree with former Cavs guard Ron Harper, who told the Akron Beacon Journal that Irving made the decision because of "youth" and "ignorance."

"I think Kyrie is going to end up getting traded. But I think what Ron was saying is really unfair to Kyrie," Griffin said during Monday's edition of "The Jump" on ESPN. "I don't think this is 'youth' and 'ignorance.' This is a guy who handled this situation exactly like he was supposed to. He went to [Cavs owner] Dan Gilbert privately, told him that he thought he would be happier somewhere else. The absolute worst thing this guy could have done was pretend to be all in and sink the ship from within.

"Most guys don't have the courage to do what he did. That's not 'youth' and 'ignorance.' That's a little bit more courage than people give him credit for."

Griffin believes Irving's decision ultimately came down to a desire to find out how he can operate as the leading man on his team, not LeBron's sidekick.

"I think this is a guy who wants to know how good he can be," Griffin said. "LeBron casts a very large shadow over an organization, and most of it is really, really positive. You know you're expected to win a championship, by way of example. But what that doesn't always allow is for a player like Kyrie to test his boundaries a little bit and see how good he can really be, and can I actually be the front man of a team like that?"

Aug. 5: Irving could be dealt to Suns for Eric Bledsoe, Dragan Bender

By Nick Birdsong

We know who the Suns aren't (so) willing to depart with to acquire Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, who reportedly requested a trade three weeks ago. Now, we know who they might be willing to give up to gain an asset that would immediately give Phoenix one of the best backcourts in the NBA.

It appears the Suns are holding firm that they won't include rookie Josh Jackson in any deal to bring the suddenly disgruntled Irving to into the fold, according to myriad reports. The 6-8, 205-pounder out of Kansas has shown why he was worthy of the No. 4 overall draft selection. He wowed spectators in Summer League, averaging 17.4 points on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 9.2 rebounds in five games in Las Vegas.

Bledsoe would be an obvious downgrade at point guard. The 28-year-old's career averages (13.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds) pale in comparison to those of Irving (21.6, ppg, 5.6 apg,), a four-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year.

However, Bledsoe is coming off his best campaign in seven seasons in the league. In 2016-17, he went for 21.1 points and 6.3 assists, both career highs, while playing alongside burgeoning star shooting guard Devin Booker (22.1 ppg). Bledsoe, who shares an agent in Klutch Sports' Rich Paul with LeBron James, posted a 20.6 player efficiency rating last season, easily the best on the Suns.

The 7-1 Bender was disappointing during his first season in the NBA, playing just 13.3 minutes per game and shooting an abysmal 35.4 percent from the field. However, at 19 years old, he's a project Cleveland might want to take on, especially if the Heat's 2018 first-round pick is included in the deal as rumored.

Aug. 4: John Wall on Kyrie Irving: 'I'd stay put'

By Thomas Lott

John Wall wants nothing more than to keep playing with the team that drafted him, so to hear that Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the team that picked him up on draft day baffled the former Kentucky star.

"That was crazy to me. I didn't know that was happening at all. Well, too bad," Wall said (via CSN Mid-Atlantic). "It's kinda tough. If I had been to three straight [NBA] Finals, I'd want to stay but you never know what type of relationship or what type of details they have going on the backside. Nobody knows what's going on behind closed doors."

Irving and Wall have been two of the best guards in the NBA since Wall was taken No. 1 overall in 2010 and Irving was taken No. 1 overall in 2011. Both have signed max extensions with their teams as Irving is locked up for the next two years and Wall just signed his four-year, $170 million deal in recent weeks.

Aug. 3: Irving sweepstakes currently has no front-runner, per report

Say what you want about Cavaliers new GM Koby Altman being under qualified for the job, every single source that will speak to his approach to the Kyrie Irving situation has been complementary.

Altman doesn't want to get ripped off, and from all accounts, the Cavaliers are willing to hold on to Irving if they don't get a deal they like.

Right now though according to a report by Basketball Insiders, there is no front-runner in the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes, and honestly, there have been no deals the Cavaliers would truly consider.

"The Cleveland Cavaliers are not operating with any sense of urgency on finding a Kyrie Irving trade. League sources say they are continuing to field calls and talk through ideas, but that there is no sense of closure on the situation looming. In fact, there does not seem to be much urgency in how the Cavs are approaching the situation at all.

One source whose team has been trying to find a way to deal for Irving said this week that there does not seem to be anything of a deadline for the Cavs to make a decision. While the Cavs have been very focused and professional in their talks, this particular team did not have any sense of where they stood in the Cavs process, describing them as in “fact finding mode,” not necessarily deal making mode. That can always change quickly, but there doesn’t seem to be much urgency to find closure."

The report goes on to say that if there a front-runner emerges, that team would likely be the Suns simply because a trade for Josh Jackson might be the most appealing to LeBron James. The Suns reportedly though are not discussing deals that include Jackson or Devin Booker, but that very well could be because Jackson does not become trade eligible until this coming week.

The Heat, Timberwolves and Knicks are all still working to try to get a trade done, but no specific names have been mentioned and Andrew Wiggins is reportedly untouchable for the Timberwolves, so they may be out of the running entirely with a solid four that includes Wiggins, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and newly acquired Jeff Teague.

For now we wait to see what happens, just don't hold your breath because Altman may not make a move for a while.

Wiggins, who said in July he's worth "nothing less" than a max contract, was the first-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Cavs but was promptly traded to the Wolves in the Kevin Love deal as LeBron James returned to Cleveland.

Wolves head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau said recently the team is looking to lock up Wiggins, who averaged a career-high 23.6 points this past season along with four rebounds and 2.3 assists.

With Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jeff Teague and Wiggins, the Wolves are in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and are better off letting another team over-pay for Irving's services moving forward.

The Suns' reluctance to part with Josh Jackson, the fourth overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, is the sticking point in a deal to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Cavs, Cleveland.com reported.

According to the report, the Suns and Cavs have agreed to include Eric Bledsoe and a first-round pick in 2018 in the deal, but the Suns are unwilling to include Jackson and already have told Devin Booker he wouldn't be traded.

"If that [Bledsoe, a first-round pick and Jackson] deal for Irving was there, it'd be done by now," an unidentified league source with knowledge of the Cavs' thinking told Cleveland.com.

CBSSports.com puts a finer point on the potential trade's context: Phoenix isn't on Irving's list of preferred destinations, and since he holds a player option for the 2019-20 season, the Suns don't want to face dealing Jackson, a key piece in their rebuild, only to see Irving gone after two seasons.

Stay tuned. Under league rules, Jackson can't be traded for 30 days after signing his rookie contract, which he did July 3. That means the Suns couldn't deal him until later this week.

July 28: Cavaliers have gotten as many as 20 trade offers for Irving

By Thomas Lott

If someone wants Kyrie Irving in a trade this offseason, they're likely going to have to give up the equivalent of what the Knicks gave up for Carmelo Anthony.

According to ESPN , the Cavaliers have received as many as 20 offers from teams interested in trading for the All-Star, but what the Cavs are asking for in return is far more than what teams are willing to give up.

"The Cavaliers want a package that resembles the 2011 Denver Nuggets-New York Knicks deal for Carmelo Anthony -- young players, win-now veterans and draft picks, league sources said. For new general manager Koby Altman, this is a textbook way to open trade discussions. But for now, most Irving suitors are using the Minnesota Timberwolves-Chicago Bulls trade model for Jimmy Butler, a scaled-down model of Melo's rich return of assets."

The teams that likely can make a deal for Irving might be the Suns and the Celtics. Trade rumors have floated around a form of one-for-one deal with Irving going to Boston and Isaiah Thomas coming back to Cleveland, but nothing has come of that just yet. A possible Suns deal for Irving could take Josh Jackson or Devin Booker to get it done, so that may not be logical either.

For now, Altman continues to take calls on Irving, and for what it's worth, several executives have given Altman props for doing his due diligence in not just taking any trade for an integral part of a team that won an NBA title.

July 28: Raptors rule themselves out of Irving sweepstakes

The Raptors have ruled themselves out as a destination for Irving, who is rumored to be leaving the Cavaliers a year removed from an NBA title-winning season.

Several teams are reported to be in the mix for the four-time all-star point guard, but the Raptors are not one of them. A source tell's SN's Sean Deveney that there is "less than one percent chance" the Raptors would acquire Irving via trade.

Incumbent starting point guard Kyle Lowry recently re-signed with the Raptors for big bucks, while 2015 draftee Delon Wright is set to be Lowry's understudy in the upcoming season.

July 26: Irving reportedly not taking calls from Cavaliers

By Thomas Lott

Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers reportedly aren't on speaking terms right now, according to the Athletic. That sentiment was echoed by ESPN Thursday morning.

"Kyrie's standing there looking straight at him," ESPN's Tom Haberstroh said Thursday in reference to a video where James is seen in a game poking Irving on the bench."He's that teenager that doesn't want to hear it from his dad and LeBron James is not happy about it, but that was telling to me, of course we've seen that from Mario Chalmers and Dwayne Wade in Miami.

"But Kyrie Irving man, he was an All-Star starter before LeBron James came to him and he obviously wasn't hearing that at that time and now he doesn't want to hear it at all apparently. Jason Lloyd is reporting from the Athletic that Kyrie Irving's not even taking calls from the Cavs right now. It's bad."

Despite all of this Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said in a news conference Wednesday that Irving is an integral part of the team and they are preparing like Irving is going to be a member of the team for the foreseeable future.

Kyrie Irving met with Cavaliers brass after the season was over and something was said. It has been widely reported that Irving asked for a trade, and what may be more telling than anything is the Cavaliers are not denying that.

In Koby Altman's introduction as the Cavs general manager Wednesday, the very first question asked was about Irving's reported request for a trade. The answer was veiled but telling and it certainly appears that Irving asked for a trade. Neither Altman nor owner Dan Gilbert denied it.

"There was several scenarios discussed at that time," Gilbert said in reference to Irving's meeting with Cavs brass a few weeks ago. "I don't feel it's appropriate to really get into the details of all those scenarios, and again, I don't know the sources of the report that there was a trade request made, I read it in the media like some of you reported and some of you read, but we talked about widely the possibilities of the future at that time, we had not assigned Koby yet as general manager, and there were a few other moves I believe that were made at that time, so these things are fluid."

They may be fluid, but they also appear to be true. Gilbert would go on to confirm later that the Pacers tried to deal Paul George to the Cavaliers but that they, "could have done better."

Altman went on to say what any GM on his introduction to the media would say: Irving is a core part of the team and he is an outstanding player.

It is going to be tough to trade Irving no matter what. The Cavs would have to get a huge haul back for the All-Star and Irving wants to go to a contender and contenders are not likely to give up assets that would hamper their future, so it's a bit of a catch-22.

For now the Cavs are preparing like no trade will get done and planning for next season with Irving.

"According to my sources, they believe LeBron James had everything to do with news getting out that Kyrie Irving wants to be traded," Smith said. "Because Kyrie Irving and his representation and others met with the Cavaliers a couple weeks ago, and not a word got out until recently.

"They believe that LeBron James got word of it and was put off by it and leaked it. I’m not going to accuse LeBron of such a thing. I don’t know that to be true at all. But I know that’s what Kyrie Irving believes."

James was reportedly blindsided by the news of Irving's request, but it remains to be seen whether his emotions would drive him to leak information about Irving's meeting with Cleveland's front office. According to Smith, it may not matter what actually happened. If Irving believes James took action, it might do irreparable damage to their relationship.

Once again, there is a plot twist in the Kyrie Irving-Cavaliers saga. Irving decided to ask the Cavaliers for a trade after talking to his pastor, Carl Lentz of Hillsong Church, according to TMZ Sports.

Irving went to Lentz recently and talked to him about his desire not always be overshadowed by LeBron James. While Lentz didn't tell Irving to leave the team, according to the report, he said Irving needed to do what was in his best interests.

Apparently Irving's best interests were to leave Cleveland.

Pop star Justin Bieber reportedly consulted with Lentz before pulling out of a recent tour, with rumors swirling that Lentz was influential in helping Bieber realize he wanted to focus on his Christian life. Bieber recently shot down those reports, saying he was exhausted after touring for two years.

TMZ also posted a video showing Irving, Bieber and Lentz hanging out at an arcade last week.

July 25: Carmelo Anthony for Irving trade is a no-go

By Thomas Lott

The one way the Knicks can get Kyrie Irving is by trading Carmelo Anthony. The problem is Anthony doesn't want to go to Cleveland if Kyrie Irving isn't there as well.

It has been reported mutliple times that the Knicks have reached out to the Cavaliers in hopes of trading Anthony to them for Irving. The issue, though, is that Anthony still wants to play for Houston according to ESPN's Ian Begley.

Carmelo Anthony's top destination in any trade, per league sources, is the Houston Rockets. Nothing really has changed since ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported more than a week ago that Anthony still expected the Knicks to carry out their previous plan to trade him to Houston.

Now things can evolve quickly in the NBA. Anthony can shift his thinking on his no-trade clause and where he would like to end up at any time. But as of Tuesday night, landing in Houston remained his top priority over all other potential destinations, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now the only way it would seem for the Knicks to get a hold of Irving in New York would be to trade Kristaps Porzingis and they apparently have no desire to part ways with the budding star.

Irving can all but strike the Knicks off of his list of teams he wants to play for because it appears they will not be making a deal for the NBA champion.

After the Cavs signed Derrick Rose to a one-year deal Monday, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com reported Rose was looking at a spot in the starting lineup in light of Irving's trade request, and James was "eager to see (Irving) off." James responded Tuesday morning on Twitter using the hashtag #NotFacts.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith also reported if Irving happened to be standing in front of James the four-time NBA MVP would be tempted to "beat (Irving's) ass." James is apparently too busy enjoying his vacation to think about fighting a teammate.

It's interesting to see James respond to these specific aspects of what has become an ugly situation. He denied these reports in the strongest terms with the #NotFacts hashtag, but he also didn't come out and say he wants Irving to stay in Cleveland. Good luck to all you psychology majors out there trying to figure out what LeBron is thinking.

July 25: Irving's trade request didn't surprise Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups likely sensed Kyrie Irving's unhappiness in Cleveland, but the reason for turning down an executive position with the Cavs was more complicated for the former Pistons star.

To an extent, Billups turned down the team president job in Cleveland for the same reason Irving wants to be traded.

"The whole LeBron leaving the next year, to be honest that didn't bother me that much," Billups said in an interview with Altitude Sports 950 AM in Denver Tuesday (via ESPN.com). "Here's why: When you have an opportunity to really put something together and put your imprint on it -- rebuilding is a beautiful thing if [they're] going to have the patience with you. What bothered me more than if LeBron left or not was that I didn't think they had great assets if you have to do a rebuild. It was more that than 'Bron. 'Bron and I have always had an amazing relationship."

If Irving stays and LeBron leaves, Irving will be left with a roster with an average age of 29.75 years. The last time the Cavs selected a player in the draft was 2015.

Odds are also that players on the Cavs' current roster like Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, Jeff Green and Kyle Korver could all be gone. But J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson will be there, but they'll be without LeBron James.

That's not exactly the most appealing roster situation and Billups passed on it. It's not surprising, especially to Billups, to hear Irving may not want to play with that roster.

"[Irving's trade request] didn't surprise me. I knew as [the Cavs] were doing their due diligence on me I was doing the same thing on them," Billups said.

July 24: LeBron James refutes Stephen A. Smith report that he wants to beat Irving's a—

By Thomas Lott

If LeBron James and Kyrie Irving are both in Cleveland for the 2017-18 season it will be must-watch television. First Irving asks for a trade. Then James is blindsided. Then Irving said he thinks James leaked the story. Now this story from Stephen A. Smith, which he told on his radio show Monday afternoon.

Audio of @stephenasmith claiming his 'sources' have told him that Lebron would "Beat Kyrie's ass"

"I had sources in LeBron James' camp literally tell me and I'm quoting, I'm quoting...if Kyrie Irving was in front of LeBron James right now LeBron James would be tempted, quote, 'to beat his a—,'" Smith said.

Suffice it to say, things aren't going well for the Cavs, and it's looking like the state of the franchise won't be getting better any time soon. The Cavs are operating as though an Irving trade is "almost inevitable," according to ESPN's Zach Lowe, who cites several sources in reporting that there is little chance of the Cavs "salvaging their relationship" with Irving.

It's important to note these situations are fluid, as feelings and emotions can always change. No one knows that better than James, who chose to return to Cleveland in 2014 after he was excoriated by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and thousands of fans for "The Decision" in 2010. A trade demand does not equal an actual trade. Remember, even the great Kobe Bryant once demanded a trade from the Lakers in 2007, and he ended up staying for nearly another decade and winning two more titles before he retired.

At this point, though, the Cavs are on the trade train. Lowe reports Cleveland wants a big return in any Irving deal, most importantly a "blue-chip young player." ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who initially broke the news of Irving's request, doesn't see Irving wearing a Cavs uniform much longer.

"I don't think they can (keep Irving)," Windhorst said during an appearance on "SportsCenter." "Kyrie told Dan Gilbert when they sat down he didn't want to play with LeBron anymore. LeBron knows that, and I don't think there's any coming back. So, eventually, I think the Cavs will trade Kyrie Irving."

When news broke Friday that Kyrie Irving wanted to be traded away from the Cavaliers so he wouldn't be under LeBron James's shadow, it took the sports world by storm. Now that some of the hot fuzz has died down, fellow Cavalier Richard Jefferson said he understands why Irving wants to move on, and that it's not an insult to James nor the Cavaliers.

"I think Kyrie is a hyper-intelligent kid," Jefferson said on his "Road Trippin'" podcast on Monday. "Really, really smart. Doesn't get enough credit for how smart he is, and I think seeing that the franchise is in flux. I think seeing [David Griffin] leave and the amount of coaches ... I think Kyrie has had a much tougher time in this stretch of the organization than anyone ever wants to ever really fully [recognize].

"He's the No. 1 pick right after LeBron [left for the Heat in 2010], then he has three different coaches, then LeBron comes back, now there's trade rumors, now it's 'LeBron's leaving.' It's like at some point in time, anybody would want some sort of stability."

Tyronn Lue is actually the fourth coach who Irving has been under since 2010. Before Lue, Byron Scott, Mike Brown and David Blatt all coached the team in relative short succession.

In just the past month, the Cavaliers lost the NBA title and Griffin "parted ways" with the team. Now Cleveland has promoted Koby Altman, who was an assistant under Griffin, to general manager.

As to whether there is any tension between James and Irving, Jefferson said that couldn't be further from the case.

"I think Kyrie knows how important he is to our team," Jefferson said. "LeBron knows how important he is. He has been on this podcast. They have been on this podcast together multiple times together where 'Bron was like, 'Dude, this is my guy, I need him. He is so important to me, my kids love him.'

"And again, just like any family there are ups and downs, there are moments that you hate them, moments that you love them, and then you just kind of keep it moving."

July 23: One Draymond Green quote offers Irving important lesson

By Nick Birdsong

Kyrie Irving needs to listen to Draymond Green. The words of the loquacious forward directed at Paul Pierce during an epic trash-talking session last season fit the former No. 1 overall pick like a fine, tailored European suit.

In context, Green was keeping it funky with the now-retired Pierce, letting him know his legacy — or lack thereof — wasn't worthy of an elaborate farewell tour such as the one the entire league participated in during the former Lakers great's final season in 2015-16. He wasn't lying.

Apparently, Irving thinks he can follow in the footsteps of the "Black Mamba," who won a pair of titles after playing Robin to Shaquille O'Neal's Batman during the Lakers' three-peat in the early 2000s. Late Friday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Irving, who earned a ring in 2016 as four-time MVP LeBron James' trusted sidekick, told Cavaliers' brass he wants to be traded. ESPN's Chris Haynes followed up with four preferred destinations.

ESPN Sources: On Kyrie Irving front, Cavs were given four preferred landing spots: New York, Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota.

Chief among Irving's reasons for wanting out: the desire to be the focal point of a team's offense. He also reportedly doesn't want to play with James anymore. James, who's been in North Carolina along with the rest of his family as his sons participate in a national youth basketball tournament, was, as Windhorst put it, "blindsided" by the news.

Granted, there could be much more to this than meets the eye. After all, Dan Gilbert still owns the Cavaliers. Signing Jeff Green and Jose Calderon and re-signing Kyle Korver have been the only moves Cleveland has made this summer. Meanwhile, the Celtics, the Cavaliers' biggest competition in the Eastern Conference, added All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward (21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game) to a team that won 53 games last year.

Out West, Houston picked up nine-time All-Star and four-time assists leader Chris Paul to partner with James Harden (29.1 ppg, 11.2 apg, 8.1 rpg) in the backcourt. Paul George was shipped to Oklahoma City to give MVP Russell Westbrook an All-Star caliber running mate after lone-rangering last season in the immediate aftermath of the departure of Kevin Durant. READ MORE HERE

July 22: Twitter had too much fun thinking of Irving deals in ESPN's trade machine

By Jordan Heck

ESPN has a useful tool on its website called the NBA Trade Machine. It allows normal people to pretend to be a GM for a while and make trades around the league just to see if they would work, financially.

Of course the tool isn't perfect. You can't include draft picks, which can be essential in finalizing deals. Also, just because a trade can work doesn't mean anyone in real life would actually agree to it. But the tool is fun to use, especially in moments of chaos like Friday afternoon.

After it was reported Kyrie Irving wanted out of Cleveland, people headed in droves to see if their deals would work.

Try to remember what it was like watching the star player on your high school sports team soak up all the attention. Barcelona forward Neymar and Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving are still sick of that feeling.

The two mega stars are reportedly hoping to move from their current teams in an attempt to escape the shadows of even bigger stars currently on their same rosters.

Brazilian international Neymar is one of the best footballers in the world, but he plays on the same club team as Lionel Messi. Reports have been flying fast and furious claiming the fleet-footed forward is hoping to ditch Barcelona for Paris Saint Germain.

According to ESPN FC, Neymar and PSG have already agreed to personal terms while waiting for the two clubs to come to an agreement.

Irving, on the other hand, distributes the ball to LeBron James, arguably one of the best NBA players of all time. Irving has reportedly demanded a trade, hoping to get more credit on a different team.

The parallels between the two sidekicks is shockingly similar. Both players put up eye-popping numbers, which has helped elevate their status as one of the best in their respective sports. However, when Barcelona or Cleveland enjoy success, Neymar and Irving are rarely at the forefront of the media. That distinction usually goes to Messi and James. READ MORE

Cavs guard Kyrie Irving made an interesting comment at a Sports Illustrated event this week calling the Cavs' offseason "peculiar." You know what would have made their offseason even more peculiar? Trading Kyrie Irving.

Obviously Irving has not been traded at this point, but if this story is accurate then what on earth is going on in Cleveland? Per ESPN.com:

"The request came last week and was made to Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Irving has expressed that he wants to go play in a situation where he can be a more focal point and no longer wants to play alongside LeBron James, sources said."

James, according to the report, was blindsided by the news.

Irving's agent, Jeff Wechsler, did not confirm or deny the story.

If the former Duke guard were to be traded, he would be giving up his "supermax" option that he would be due once he got to free agency. He is locked up for three more years and due $60 million over that time.

Friday evening, Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports reported a source claims the Cavaliers and Knicks are in "serious talks" regarding a trade involving Irving and Carmelo Anthony, with a third team possibly involved.

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